Musharraf's lawyers want trial venue changed after TTP threat

Islamabad: Former military dictator Pervez Musharraf’s lawyers on Wednesday sought a change in venue for his high-profile treason trial, citing a threat to their lives by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The lawyers produced a threatening letter sent to them allegedly by the TTP, asking them to disassociate from the case.

Musharraf's counsel Ahmad Raza Kasuri said the TTP has threatened his client's legal team including himself, Anwar Mansoor Advocate and Sharifuddin Pirzada.

He also said the court, which has been set up at the National Library in Islamabad, should move to a safer location after a terror attack on the local court in Islamabad on Monday that claimed 11 lives.

An application has been filed in this regard by the defence lawyers.

Prosecutor Akram Sheikh Advocate, however, argued that the courts work even during the war.

Justice Faisal Arab said that the file of the case could not be closed and dumped in the record room in view of any threat.

“We are conscious of our responsibility. If the case comes before the court, it has to be proceeded; we cannot leave our job for any threat of life,” he added.

Justice Arab said that he had spoken to the Inspector General and Commissioner of Islamabad for an hour on Wednesday and they had assured him that the court is secure.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned till March 7.

Earlier on March 3, two suicide bombers and their armed accomplices attacked the district courts in Islamabad's Sector F-8, killing 11 people, including an Additional Sessions Judge and injuring over two dozen others.

The 70-year-old former dictator is scheduled to appear before the Special Court on March 11. He is likely to be indicted on that day.

The high-treason case relates to the imposition of emergency rule in 2007 by Musharraf.